Jesse Brewster started tinkering with a guitar when he was about 8 years old and really got into it by the time he was 12. His older brother, Jim, heard him play and encouraged him to start a band; Brewster's first band included his brother on drums.

Jim died in 1998 of polycystic kidney disease. In 2004, Brewster released his first solo record, "Confessional," donating proceeds from the album to research and treatment for the disease.

That was the first time Brewster, now 37, really struck out on his own as a solo artist, and since then he has released a handful of records - his latest being 2011's "Wrecking Ball at the Concert Hall."

On Friday, he'll perform an acoustic set with his bandmate, vocalist Allyson Paige.

What is the main theme of your music?

Whether it's autobiographic, a story about someone else or a feeling evoked by the music, I try to keep it honest. Most of my material is hook driven with as much ass-kicking guitar as I can get away with.

When did you start writing your own songs?

Starting out as early as middle school I wrote music, but it was much later I started writing lyrics as well. I was always into creative writing (studied both music and English in college), but it was definitely an adjustment to consolidate my long-winded stories and ideas into concise short form for songs.

How does living in the Bay Area affect your music?

Well there's the fabled history of the S.F. music scene and the hippie counterculture. I try to do my part to carry on that legacy to a certain extent but also want to bring the music into the 21st century. I think growing up in different places in addition to the bay has helped me to embrace different genres of music and meld them into my sound.

What's the most important aspect to putting on a live show?

To get up there and have fun. Telling the story of each song as authentically as I can, and inviting the crowd along on the journey. With the full band I don't look at it as me being a solo artist with players backing me up. I want everyone to get loose and have the space to stretch out. I'm lucky to be surrounded by stomping players that keep me on my toes and that are dynamic enough to know when to follow the whisper or the scream.

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